Mojave Tailgate opens by itself

[KennyGolub]

I've only had my Gladiator since May of this year. Twice now, I have found the tailgate open. One time after I got inside and put it in reverse to see the gate down. Another time, I just noticed it down when coming out to it.
I do not have an electronic means or setup to open it.

Anyone else ever suffer this problem?
Thanks

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[D_JT]

Either someone is messing with you, or you aren't latching it all the way. There's no reason for it to simply open by itself.

 

[Labswine]

Ya gotta make sure it's latched. I had a similar issue on my Overland (ordered 5/19, delivered 7/19) after I had the tailgate replaced due to some stupidity of mine (crunched it with the tongue jack of a utility trailer when backing up and the trailer got a bit away from me). I noticed that if I didn't really push it closed it'd flop open all by it's lonesome. So, now whenever I close the tail gate, I give it a little tug to make sure it's totally latched.

But, yeah, as someone else said, could just be someone screwing wit-cha....

 

[imallcrawl]

If your doors are locked your tailgate should be locked as well right? If not, your JT is definitely possessed

 

[banderson099]

I had a similar issue with my Jeep, it ended being a result of the tonneau cover I have. The Mopar Tri-Fold hard tonneau cover overlaps the top of the tailgate and would sometimes prevent it from fully latching. For a while my tailgate would randomly open while driving or whenever I hit hard bumps. Was fully prepared to take it to the dealership for faulty tailgate latches, but realized when I close the tailgate it was hitting the tonneau cover and wasn't always fully latching. Ended up being an easy adjustment and I don't have the issue any more.

 

[brsnow2585]

There was a tsb on a couple years of tailgate. The mechanism is kinda sloppy, and I can tell on mine the bed and tailgate aren't totally square with each other. With the gate down, one of the cables is always a little slack despite sitting as level visually determinable. Sometimes I have to close mine twice to get both sides to latch, I suspect the plastic 'things' that adjust the latch rods. This picture might help, had to take a piece to the shop, bed liner started flaking. The yellow pieces are the ones I suspect.

 

[D_JT]

The was a tsb on a couple years of tailgate. The mechanism is kinda sloppy, and I can tell on mine the bed and tailgate aren't totally square with each other. With the gate down, one of the cables is always a little slack despite sitting as level visually determinable. Sometimes I have to close mine twice to get both sides to latch, I suspect the plastic 'things' that adjust the latch rods. This picture might help, had to take a piece to the shop, bed liner started flaking. The yellow pieces are the ones I suspect.

I bet they are square to each other. You more than likely need to adjust the striker pin on the bed. I did that in the first few days of owning mine new. The left side would latch sooner than the right. So i adjusted the striker pin and now both sides latch at the same time. As for your cable, you can also adjust that on the tail gate.

 

[brsnow2585]

I bet they are square to each other. You more than likely need to adjust the striker pin on the bed. I did that in the first few days of owning mine new. The left side would latch sooner than the right. So i adjusted the striker pin and now both sides latch at the same time. As for your cable, you can also adjust that on the tail gate.

Thanks for the advice, it's never been a big enough PITA to get after it, might be next on the list after the busted u joint and windshield.

 

[Chasm]

I went out to back out of the garage and found it down via the camera. I was racking my brain trying to remember putting it down. Now I'm busy thinking it's dropping on it's own.

 

[brsnow2585]

Sounds like a significant other that's jelly about your truck, messing with you....hahaa, I'm not trying to start fights, just joking around

 

[imallcrawl]

Guys, can the tailgate open when the doors are locked? I keep hearing that someone could be messing with you and lowering your tailgate, but on my JT when my doors are locked I can't open my tailgate, I usually have to use my fob to unlock it, then I can open it.

 

[brsnow2585]

Fair point, I'll go back to the latches and if they're dialed in properly, then I'll go after the yellow plastic cubes from my earlier picture. They hold the actuator rods that unlocks the gate, plastic threads vs metal threads.... Just saying

 

[Chasm]

Guys, can the tailgate open when the doors are locked?

No, but in my case I don't lock it in the garage. Odds are I dropped it to set something on it and forgot though.

 

[KennyGolub]

I had a similar issue with my Jeep, it ended being a result of the tonneau cover I have. The Mopar Tri-Fold hard tonneau cover overlaps the top of the tailgate and would sometimes prevent it from fully latching. For a while my tailgate would randomly open while driving or whenever I hit hard bumps. Was fully prepared to take it to the dealership for faulty tailgate latches, but realized when I close the tailgate it was hitting the tonneau cover and wasn't always fully latching. Ended up being an easy adjustment and I don't have the issue any more.

Thanks !

 

[93civej1]

mines done this a couple of times. I always just shrug it off as I must have not latched it good, but yes ive also had this happen a few.

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